More on Game of Thrones

5 Game of Thrones spin-offs we absolutely need

Now that The Walking Dead has got a spin-off show to bridge the long gap between seasons, we think it would only be fitting for Game of Thrones to take heed and give the people what we want. Namely, Ned Stark’s backstory, please. Here are five possibilities for Game of Thrones spin-offs we are dying to watch:

1. Band of Baratheons (or the story of Robert’s rebellion)

Could a flashback to ‘Band of Baratheons’ be coming in season six?

The backstory to Game of Thrones often seems more interesting than what’s actually happening on the show, and we’d honestly love to see a spin-off about the time a young Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark rebelled against a centuries-old dynasty after the kidnapping of Ned’s sister Lyanna Stark. While Game of Thrones has mostly shied away from heavy battle scenes, Band of Baratheons would be filled with expensive, gory action sequences. We would get to see Robert Baratheon in his glory days, back when he was young and good looking and sensational with a hammer. We’d also learn the damn truth about what when down with Lyanna and Rhaegar, and possibly where exactly Jon Snow came from.

2. The Targaryens (or the rise and fall of Westeros’ most scandalous royal family)

While Viserys and Daenerys would be too young to appear in the show, their ancestors probably looked just like them due to the whole incest thing

The Targaryen family were a bizarre and intriguing royal family, who would completely suit an expose series in the style of Showtime’s The Tudors. Holding the throne of Westeros for hundreds of years and producing both beloved and corrupt leaders, the Targaryens were a fascinating dynasty. They engaged in practices that were considered weird even amongst the other ruling families of the realm, such as continual incest – which slowly led more and more children to become insane and played a role in their eventual loss of the throne. They also had dragons, which is as good a reason as any for a Targaryen family spin-off.

3. Sex and the Viper (or Oberyn, Ellaria and friends explore the pleasures of Dorne)

Dorne could make an interesting setting for Sex and the City: Westeros

You know you totally want a spin-off prequel series about the life and (many) loves of Oberyn Martell, second son of the ruling family in Dorne. When Oberyn first appeared in season four of Game of Thrones, he was sexy, clever and irrepressible. Apparently Dorne is nothing like the rest of the Seven Kingdoms, being more relaxed about life and sex in general. A spin-off could delve into the inner workings of Dornish politics and society, and what better character to put at the front of it than fan favourite hedonist Oberyn Martell? Alternatively, a series about the Sand Snakes (Oberyn’s Angels?) would go down a delicious treat.

4. Being Faceless (or an insight into the lives of The Faceless Men of Braavos, sans Arya)

Where did the Faceless Men come from and what are their limits? Arya’s too busy planning her revenge to ask

Arya has definitely undertaken the most interesting journey of the remaining Stark children in Game of Thrones, most recently joining a group of face-changing assassins known as ‘The Faceless Men’. She could have easily fronted a spin-off series about her learning the politics of The Free City of Braavos and the city’s secretive assassins. There is still so much we don’t understand about the enigmatic group – how are they able to change their faces? What of their true faces? What are their limits? A series from the viewpoint of a character less rebellious than Arya (who is never going to be more interested in the workings of society than getting revenge on those who have personally wronged her), would be thoroughly eye-opening stuff.

5. War Horselords (or a series about the Dothraki peoples)

They’re kind of like fantasy horse-riding Spartans

From the very first episode of Game of Thrones, the Dothraki have been one of the series’ more intriguing peoples. Obsessed with war and strength, the Dothraki engage in some pretty strange rituals like making their pregnant queen eat an entire raw stallion heart for good luck with the baby. Like many a race that has inspired television series (Genghis Khan, Marco Polo…), the Dothraki habitually pillage towns and rape and enslave townspeople. Their incredibly ferocious mentality to life would make them an interesting subject for a spin-off series.

Season six of Game of Thrones will be simulcast on Sky Atlantic at 2am on 25th April, at the same time it airs in the US and will be repeated 9pm the same day. If you’ve missed any of the action so far, every episode of seasons 1-5 will be exclusively available to watch on Sky Box Sets from 14th March.